One of the unusual aspects of the upcoming Asian Games will be that some athletes will be housed… on a cruise ship. Moored in Nagoya harbor, the Costa Serena will accommodate nearly half of the 15.000 athletes and officials expected in Japan for the Games, from September 19 to October 4. This innovative approach has raised some questions, but the organizing committee is confidently defending it just over 100 days before the opening ceremony.
"A unique experience"
No traditional athletes' village: the organizing committee opted not to build, but rather to use temporary solutions. The Costa Serena is one such solution. Max Mager, technical delegate for BMX Racing, was enthusiastic: This has never been done before at the Asian Games: having a cruise ship docked in the harbor to serve as the Games Village. I think it will be very exciting for the athletes, perhaps even a once-in-a-lifetime experience. »
The same goes for Beatrice Alfred Lajawa, technical delegate for mountain biking: I think it will be a unique experience for the athletes. It will give them a good opportunity to mingle with athletes from other disciplines rather than staying in a hotel. The Costa Serena, with its 571 cabins, has the advantage of being extensively equipped, including seven swimming pools and eight restaurants. The cost to the organizing committee was around 25 million euros, significantly less than if they had had to build an entire village. However, several delegations reportedly requested accommodation on land, fearing inconveniences, particularly for precision sports such as archery and shooting.
Containers, another question mark
Other athletes will be housed nearby in converted shipping containers. I would like them to return home after having had a unique experienceKazuhiro Yagi, deputy secretary general of the Aichi-Nagoya Games organizing committee, explained to The Japan Times. If people were to live there long-term, that would be a different story. But in this particular case, it's a very limited period, and the athletes will spend most of their time training and then simply return to rest. »
An original solution, which offers " a perfectly acceptable living environment "He assures us. To avoid any unpleasant surprises, India has installed similar containers in Patiala and Bengaluru so that athletes can familiarize themselves with the environment and avoid distractions during the Games." Our athletes are our top priority. We will provide them with all the necessary support so they can prepare without distractions and give their best at the Asian Games. “Qualified athletes will be able to spend at least one night there to familiarize themselves with the environment and thus be able to focus 100% on the competition when the time comes,” said Minister Mandaviya.
